Siop Cwlwm was established in July 2010 by mother-and-daughter team Linda and Lowri Roberts, with a simple but powerful aim: to make Welsh books and Welsh culture accessible, welcoming, and visible — wherever people live.

From the beginning, Siop Cwlwm has been about more than selling products. It has been about connection — connecting people with the Welsh language, with Welsh stories, and with the confidence to explore Welsh culture whether they are fluent speakers, learners, or simply curious.

We are proud to be an independent, fully bilingual Welsh bookshop, welcoming customers in both Welsh and English.

For many years, Siop Cwlwm traded from the award-winning Oswestry Indoor Market (Powis Hall). In October 2022, we moved to our current home at 33 Bailey Street, Oswestry, where we continue to run both our physical shop and our online store.

Siop Cwlwm is often described as the only Welsh shop outside Wales, and that unique position shapes everything we do.

We work every day with:

• Welsh speakers living beyond Wales
  
• Adults learning Welsh
  
• Families raising children bilingually
  
• Schools and community groups
  
• Customers discovering Welsh culture for the first time
  

Our shop exists to show that Welsh culture reaches beyond borders, and that the language belongs wherever people choose to use it.

We stock a wide and carefully chosen range of:

• Welsh and bilingual books for all ages
  
• Learner-friendly resources
  
• Children’s books and educational materials
  
• Welsh cards, gifts, homewares, and clothing
  
• Thoughtful gifts that don’t require Welsh
  

We stock thousands of Welsh books, including:

• In-stock titles ready to send
  
• Pre-orders for forthcoming books
  
• Titles ordered specially for customers
  

This allows us to support both new Welsh publications and older titles that can often be difficult to find elsewhere.

We aim to be a shop where people feel safe to browse, ask questions, and explore at their own pace.

A core part of Siop Cwlwm’s identity is being welcoming to learners.

Many of our customers are adults starting Welsh for the first time, parents supporting children, or gift-buyers who don’t speak Welsh themselves.

We take pride in helping people find:

• Good first Welsh books
  
• Beginner-friendly reading
  
• Suitable children’s titles
  
• Meaningful gifts that don’t feel intimidating
  

“No Welsh? No problem” is not a slogan for us — it is simply how we work.

Siop Cwlwm is proud to support the Welsh-language community in practical, everyday ways.

We:

• Run a monthly “Siop Siarad” for Welsh speakers and learners
  
• Arrange events and author visits
  
• Work with schools and pre-school groups
  
• Supply Welsh and bilingual books and educational materials
  
• Offer discounts and free delivery for educational settings
  
• Give talks and presentations to community groups and organisations
  

We also helped establish a Welsh-language playgroup for local families, reflecting our belief that Welsh thrives when it is visible, shared, and supported in everyday life.

Siop Cwlwm was founded by Linda and Lowri Roberts, and family remains at the heart of the business.

In January 2023, Linda sadly passed away. Linda was happiest serving customers with a smile — especially families with babies and adults learning Welsh — and she took great care in building and maintaining our website stock.

Her warmth, encouragement, and belief in the importance of Welsh culture continue to shape how Siop Cwlwm operates today.

Lowri continues to run Siop Cwlwm alongside a small, dedicated team, bringing together bookselling, Welsh-language expertise, and community support.

Everything we do is guided by a few simple principles:

• Welsh should feel accessible, not intimidating
  
• Books should be well chosen, not overwhelming
  
• Customers should feel welcome to browse and ask questions
  
• Independent publishers, writers, and makers deserve support
  
• Welsh culture thrives when it is shared, not confined
  

We are always interested in hearing about new books, designers, producers, and craftspeople, particularly those working locally or independently.

You can find us at:

Siop Cwlwm
33 Bailey Street
Oswestry
SY11 1PX

Opening Hours

Monday — 9.30am–5.00pm
Tuesday — 10.00am–2.00pm
Wednesday — 9.30am–5.00pm
Friday — 9.30am–5.00pm
Saturday — 9.30am–5.00pm

Our online shop is always open.

We are a fully bilingual business, and you are very welcome to contact us in Welsh or English.